Qatar Open 2012: Xu Xin and Chen Meng are Crowned Champions

The new ITTF World Tour re-labelling has brought increased popularity to these events online and the Qatar Open put on another spectacular show for everyone who watched. With an enormous number of 7 set matches, it was rather fitting that the mens final would be the same.

Defending Champion Xu Xin found himself way off track as Wang Hao took a decisive and early lead in the final match of the tournament. 3-1 was the lead which Xu Xin would have to come back from and Wang Hao wasn't looking like he was going to give it up easily, overpowering and outplaying Xu at every roadstop. Despite Wang's apparent dominance, Xu Xin did come flying back. It was tense moments as Xu stole away the 5th set by the narrowest of margins, 12-10. The next set came much easier as Xu tore up the table and took it 11-5. IT was the 7th and final set that really ended in a nailbiter. At 8-8 it was point for point, turning 9-9, then 10-10. For a moment it appeared Wang Hao would take the championship, but Xu made two fantastic plays, fully committing to his shots and was able to win the match and the event.

Chen Meng Women's Champion
Image Courtesy of ITTF

For Chen Meng her final seemed to be easy sailing. Seok Ha Jung appeared to have no answer for the constant barrage of attacking plays from her opponent which came much more powerfully than Seok's own attacking strokes. It was all over before it began, a 4-0 victory for Chen Meng, very little celebration of her victory too!

Keep your eyes here for my Qatar Table Tennis Open 2012 Highlights Video!